Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive form of lung cancer with limited treatment options, especially for extensive-stage (ES) patients. We present a case of a 70-year-old male with ES-SCLC and asymptomatic brain metastasis who opted for immune monotherapy with serplulimab (an anti-PD-1 antibody). After four cycles, the patient achieved a confirmed partial response and a progression-free survival of over 1 year. Moreover, we observed a consistent decline in tumor biomarkers, and brain MRI indicated reduced metastatic activity. Remarkably, the patient tolerated the treatment well, with only mild diarrhea. This case highlights serplulimab's potential as a first-line treatment in select ES-SCLC patients, emphasizing the importance of further research on immunotherapy predictive biomarkers.
Keywords: PD-1; PFS; SCLC; brain metastasis; immunotherapy; progression-free survival; serplulimab; small-cell lung cancer.
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a severe type of lung cancer that often does not have many treatment options, especially in its advanced stages. This article discusses the experience of a 70-year-old man with advanced SCLC who also had cancer spread to his brain but did not show symptoms. He chose to try a new kind of cancer treatment called serplulimab, which works by helping the immune system fight the cancer. After receiving this treatment four-times, his cancer showed significant improvement, and he did not experience further cancer growth for more than 1 year. Tests also revealed that his cancer markers decreased, and the cancer in his brain became less active. Notably, he tolerated this agent with only mild diarrhea occurring. This case is important because it suggests that serplulimab could be an effective first treatment for some patients with advanced SCLC, and it highlights the need for more research to find ways to predict who will benefit from this type of therapy.